Production flow device



Oct. 26 19%. l J. A. HEYSER PRODUCTION FLOW DEVICE Filed April l5, 1925 l6' l Bf 1,

Patented Oct. 26, 1.926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN A. HEYSER, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TORAY A. VJHERRI'I,` OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

Y PRODUCTION FLOW DEVICE.

Application filed April 13, 1925. Serial No. 22,750.

My invention relates to air lifts for pump` ing oil, Water and the like and consists ofl the novel features herein shown, described and claimed.

My object is to make an improved air lift having larger capacity for its size, having greatly increased efliciency, especially in deep wells ot small diameter.

The principal object of my invention is to make an air lift having a venturi at the receiving end of the flow pipe and an air nozzle discharging through the venturi.

In place of air casing head gas or any any othergas may be used, or a mixture of gas and air.

Other objects and advantages will appear from the drawings and specification. The drawings illustrate the invention.`

Figure 1 is a vertical diametrical section of a well with an air lift, embodying the principles of my invention, installed for use.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical diametrical sectional detail on the lines 2-2 of Figs. l and 3 and looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on the line 3%-3 of Fig. 2 and looking in the direction indicated by the arrow.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2 and looking downwardly as indicated by the arrow.

Fig. 5 is a view in elevation of the air nozzle shown in section in Fig. 2.

The details of construction and operation are as follows:

The well casing 1 may be comparatively smal] and extend to a considerable depth. The packer 2 is mounted in the well casing 1 slightly below the level of the well liquid 3 and the perforated intake pipe 4 extends downwardly from the packer'2 into the well liquid 3. The air lift assembly 5 is connected to the packer 2 by nipple 6 and the flew pipe 7 is connected to the upper end of the air lift assembly 5 and extends upwardly through the cap 8 mounted upon the upper end of the well casing 1 above the ground 9.

An elbow 10 is fixed upon the upper end of the flow pipe 7, and the pipe 11 shown broken away, extends to any place where it is desired to deliver the well liquid.

A' compressed air pipe 12 is tapped into the cap 8, and when in operation the chamber 12 within the casing 1, around the flow pipe 7 and air lift assembly 5, above the' at the lower end and smaller at the upperpassage consists of the end. The Venturi lower part 16 and t e upper part 17. The lower part' 16 is largest at its lower end and a straight taper to the point 18 and the part 17 is largest at its upper end and a straight taper to the point 18. A taper of the part 16 is greater than the taper of the part 17. The orifice plate 19 fits against the flat face 20 at the lower end of the venturi 13 and has a plurality of openings 21 arranged concentric to the center and evenly spaced apart. The plates 19 are made interchangeable and the openings 21 of the different plates are of different sizes so that one plate may be removed and another one inserted to suit the conditions. The openingsl 21 discharge directly into the lower end of the portion 16 of the Venturi passage.

The cage 22 has a flange 23 and an inter.-

nal shoulder 24. The orifice plate 19 is screwed down into the flange 23 against the shoulder 24, and the venturi 13 is screwed down against the plate 19. rlhe cage 22 has a portion 25 extending downwardly from the shoulder 24 and reduced in size relative to thel flange 23 to make part of an lannular chamber 26 and the cage has an enlarged portion 27 at the lower end of the portion 25, forming the lower end of the chamber 26 and forming a shoulder 28. The screw threaded sleeve 29 extends downwardly from the portion 27 and screws upon the nipple 6.

4A-screen 30 fits around the cage 22, rests upon the shoulder 28, forms the outer side of the chamber 26, and the upper end of the screen is screwed down upon the flange 23. The perforations 31 of the screen lead from the chamber 12 into the chamber 26.

A bridge 32 extends across the chamber 33 of the cage 22 near its vertical center and has passages 34 and 35 leading from the chamber 26 inwardly to a central vertical chamber 36.

, An air nozzle 37 extends up and down through the chamber-.36 and the details are as follows ico An annular 'flange 38 extends upwardly from the bridge 32 and a second annular llanve 39 extends vdownwardly from the bridge 32 in line with the flange 38 and the chamber 36 extends upwardly and downwardly from the inner ends of the passages 34 and 35 into these annular langes 38 passages 34 and 35 will pass into the chamer 36 and through the passages 45to the bore 44.

A nut 48 is screwed upon the thread 40 to engage the flange 39 and hold the .nozzle 37 in its adjusted position. The nozzle 37 extends through the central opening 50 in the orifice plate 19 into .the portion 16 oi. the Venturi passage and the upper end of the nozzle has a tapered portion 51 substantially corresponding to the taper of the portion 16. The bore 44 is straight through the body of the nozzle and tapered through the portion 51 to a comparatively small outlet 52 and a bushing 53 of hard material is inserted intothe nozzle to form the reduced opening 52 and to stand the wear. A plug 54 closes the lower end of the bore 44.

In the practical operation, compressed air from the chamber 12 will pass through the )erforations 31 in the screen 30 to the chamer 26, through the openings 34 and 35 tomerged below the level of the wellliquid 3 and the liquid above the lower end of the screen 30 will be drawn in and blown out of the flow pipe. Continued operation will draw the liquid through the suction chamber already described and the liquid will pass upwardly through the orifice plate 19 outside of the taper 51 of the nozzle, through the throat of the venturi andthe liquid will pass the throat of the venturi at a high rate of speed and will befmixed with the air or gas passing through the orifice 52, thereby greatly reducing the specific gravity of the liquid above the Venturi throat.

The lifting of the column of pumped liquid above the air jet is accomplished in three distinct ways as follows: First, ,the

column has a direct lifting force exerted upon it by the pressure of thel ysii-r jet below it; second, the column has been endowed with kinetic energy corresponding to its high velocity in the throat of the venturi and tends to keep moving; and, third, the introduction of air above the throat of the venturi reduces the specific gravity of the mixture which is for this reason forced upward by the pressure of vthe liquid below if there is suiiicient submergence of plug 22.

By practice, a proper nozzle having a proper sized orifice, in line with a proper' sized Venturi throat and an accurate adjustment of the nozzle up and down will produce high eiiiciency at a comparatively great depth and to attain this efiici-ency it is not necessary that the packer and air lift assembly be deeply submerged in the well liquid.

In place of air I may use casing head gas or similar gas, or a mixture of the two. The use of gas by itself has certain advantages over the air, as follows: There is no danger of explosion, which is present when air is used, especially in oil wells of great depth since the air and gases form an explosive mixture. Again, the gas has a greater affinity for the light hydrocarbons of the oil and will become charged with them to considerable degree, which may later be recovered by means of the absorption process or any other process.

It will be understood thatv while my device may be termed an air lift, it will function as well, or perhaps better, depending upon circumstances, when another gas such as casing head gas, or the like, ora mixture of air and gas is used.

Various changes may be made without departing from the spirit of my' invention as claimed.

I claim:

1. A production flow device for wells comprising a capped casing, a flow pipe extending into the casing through the cap, a venturi upon the lower end of the How pipe, a barrel connected with the venturi, a hollow bridge extending across the barrel havingV its ends in` alignment with apertures in the barrel, a nozzle extending through the bridge directed upwardly into the venturi, said nozzle having apertures therein establishing communication between the interior of the nozzle and the interior of the bridge, means forming a closure between the bottom of the barrel and the casing, and means for supplying the interior of the casing with a. fluid under pressure whereby the fluid may enter the barrel through the bridge and be discharged upwardly through the venturiV by means of said nozzle so as to elevate the liquid below the closure.

2. Afproduction flow device for wells comprsing a capped casing, aiow pipe extendturi upon the lower end of the flow pipe, a

ing into the casing through the cap, a venturi upon the lower end of the flow pipe, a barrel connected with the venturi, a hollow bridge extending across the barrel havingits ends in alignment with apertures in the barrel, a nozzle extending through the bridge directed upwardly into the venturi, said nozzle having apertures therein establishing communication between the interior of the nozzle and the interior of the bridge,

said nozzle being adjustable relatively to said' bridge, and venturi, means forming a closure between the bottom of the barrel and the casing, and means for supplying the interior of the casing with a fluid under pressure whereby the fluid may enter the barrel through the bridge and be discharged upwardly through the venturi by means of said nozzle so as to elevate the liquid below the closure.

3. A production flow device for wells comprising a capped casing a fiow pipe extending into the casing through the cap, a venturi upon the lower end ot' the iiow pipe, a

` barrel connected with the venturi,l a hollow bridge extending across the barrel having its ends in alignment with apertures in the barrel, a nozzle extending through the bridge directed upwardly into the venturi, said nozzle having apertures therein establishing communication between the interior of the nozzle and the interior of the bridge, said nozzle being threadedly connected to said bridge so as to be adjustable relatively to i the bridge and Venturi, means forming a closure between the bottom of the barrel and the easing,`and means for supplying the interior of the casing with a fiuid under pressure whereby the fluid may enter the barrel through the bridge and be discharged upwardly through the venturi by means of said nozzle so as to elevate the liquid below the closure.

4;. A production fiow device for wells comprising a capped casing, a flow pipe extending into the ycasing through the cap, a venbarrel connected with the venturi, a hollow bridge extending across the barrel having its ends in alignment with the apertures in the barrel, a nozzle extending through the bridge directed upwardly into the venturi, said nozzle having apertures therein establishing communication between the interior of the nozzle and the interior of the Jbridge, an orifice plate disposed within said barrel, means forming a closure between the bottom of the barrel and the casing, and means for supplying the interior of the casing with a fluid under pressure whereby the Huid may enter the barrel through the bridge and be discharged upwardly through the venturi by means of said nozzle so as to. elevate the liquid below the closure.

5.. A production iiow device for wells comprising a capped casing, a flow pipe extending into the casing through the cap, aventuri upon the lower end of the flow pipe, a barrel connected with the venturi, a hollow bridge extending across the barrel having its ends in alignment with apertures in the barrel, a nozzle extending through the bridge directed upwardly into the venturi, said nozzle having' apertures therein establishing communication between the interior of' the nozzle and the interior of the bridge, an orilice plate removably disposed within said barrel, means forming a closure between the bottom of' the barrel and lthe casing, and means for supplying the interior ot' the casing with a fluid under pressure whereby the fiuid may enter the barrel through the bridge and be discharged upwardly through the venturi b means of said nozzle so as to elevate the iquid below the closure.

6. A production fiow device for wells comprising a capped casing, a iow pipe extending into the casing through the cap, a venturi upon the lower end of the iow pipe, a barrel connected with the venturi, a hollow bridge extending across the barrel having its ends in alignment with apertures in 'the barrel, a nozzle extending through the bridge directed upwardly into the venturi, said nozzle having apertures therein establishing communication between the interior of the nozzle and the interior of the bridge, au orifice plate removably positioned in said barrel about said nozzle between said bridge and venturi, means forming a closure between the bottom of the barrel and thev casing, and means for supplying the interior of the casing with a fluid under pressure whereby the fluid may enter the barrel through the bridge and be discharged upwardly through the venturi by means of said nozzle so as to elevate the liquid below the closure.

7. A production flow device for wells comprising a capped casing, a flow pipe extendlng into lthe casing through the cap, a venturi upon the lower end of the iiow pipe, a barrel connected with the venturi, a. hollow bridge extending across thelbarrel having its ends in alignment with apertures in the barrel, a nozzle extending through the bridge directed upwardly into the venturi, said nozzle having apertures therein establishing communication between the interior of the nozzle and the interior ofthe bridge, a screen disposed about said barrel, means forming a closure between the bottom of the barrel and the casing, and means for supplying the interior of the casing with a fluid under pressure whereby the fluid may enter the barrel through the bridge and be discharged upwardly through the venturi by means of said nozzle so as to elevate the liquid below the closure. ,l

8. A production flow device for wells coinprising a capped casing, a flow pipe extending into the casing through the cap, a ven'- turi upon the lower end of the flow pipe, a barrel connection with the venturi, a hollow bridge extending across the barrel having its ends in alignment with apertures in the barrel, a nozzle extending through the bridge directed upwardly into the venturi, said nozzle having apertures therein establishing Vcommunication between the interior ofthe nozzle and the interior ot' the bridge, said nozzle having a replaceable tip, means forming a closure between the bottom of the barrel and the casing, and means for supplying the interior of the casing with a fluid under pressure whereby the fluid may enter the barrel through the venturi by ineans'of sijid nozzle so as to elevate the liquid below th'ejtclosure. a

92 A production llow device for wells coinprising a flow pipe, a venturi upon the -lower end of the flow pipe, a barrel connected to the venturi, a hollow bridge extending across the barrel having its interior in coinmunication with the exterior of the barrel, anozzle niovably extending through the bridge, said nozzle being directed int-o the venturi and having apertures therein permitting connnunication between the interior of the nozzle and the interior of the bridge, and means for supplying a luid under pressure to the interior of the bridge. i

10. A production flow device for wells comprising a flow pipe, a venturi upon the lower end of the low pipe, a barrel connect- .ed to the venturi, a .hollow bridge extending across the barrel having its interior in communication with the exterior of the barrel, a nozzle movably extending through the bridge, said nozzle being .directed into the venturi and having apertures therein permitting communication between the interior of the nozzle and the interior of the bridge, a replaceable orifice plate removably mounted within said barrel, and means for supplying a fluid under pressure to the interior of the bridge.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

JOHN A. HEYSER. 

